This post really has nothing at all to do with the actual news today.
As an incurable news junkie I feel remiss because I can't seem to watch any news right now.
I can't seem to care.
Hard pressed to watch even the entertaining things like Jon Stewart, Colbert or even Bill Maher.
I can't get angry at Obama, Limbaugh, or Dick Cheney. I truly want to but I can't.
Haven't watched the news consistently since about a week ago. Not at all in the past few days.
I miss it too. But when I put the news on my mind seems to wander off or shut down.
Who are all these people, what the hell is wrong with everyone and everything?
Where is the good news?
Back when I was hot and bothered by waterboarding, Congresswoman Foxx, swine flu, the economy, health care, bank bail outs and Pakistan I could talk for hours, now I have trouble concentrating on getting the mail or what I'm going to do about my car without any money. Just doesn't matter.
What has happened that's different this past week?
My mother is very sick and it looks serious this time.
Which I was dealing with as best I could until a few days ago.
Now I'm just numb.
And as far as I can see the world and it's news will go on just fine without me as it always has regardless of my opinions.
Leaders will go on screwing big things up and fixing little things happily without me caring or watching.
It really doesn't matter.
Maybe what I'm feeling isn't really numbness, it's the sheer utter terror of a child afraid of the dark disguised as numb.
Because somehow an "adult" can deal with numb.
Or can we?
I guess I'll find out over the next few days.
I'll leave O'Reilly and Olbermann to duke it out over the what they call the news these days.
A morning post that isn't at 2am... an oddity for me.
Not sleeping all that well anyhow and yes, I do realize I'm tired, overwhelmed and probably depressed.
A very odd Mother' Day for me.
And yet another long, long day on Long Island starts.
They say no news is good news but that really isn't all that true is it?
Laura
Monday, May 11, 2009
Friday, May 1, 2009
Congresswoman Foxx's statements about Matthew Shepard's death were a hoax! Wait: you mean it wasn't... she actually did said that?
*
Yet once again I find myself astounded by the fact that our representatives don't think before they speak. I'm talking about the North Carolina Republican Congresswoman that said that Matthew Shepard's death in 1998 wasn't a hate crime. It shouldn't be used as an example in support of a bill to expand on the definition of hate crimes to include violence motivated by sexual orientation.
Congresswoman Virginia Foxx states:
"We know that young man was killed in the commitment of a robbery. It wasn't because he was gay," Foxx said during debate. "The bill was named for him, the hate-crimes bill was named for him, but it's really a hoax that continues to be used as an excuse for passing these bills."
After the shit hit the fan, Ms. Foxx stated: "The term 'hoax' was a poor choice of words used in the discussion of the hate crimes bill," "Mr. Shepard's death was nothing less than a tragedy, and those responsible for his death certainly deserved the punishment they received."
Um, yea no doubt about it.
I'm so sick of people making such cavalier statements... so callous and thoughtless. Hate crimes are hate crimes. Civil rights are due to all across our nation and freedom from fear for their safety should be too. Hatred breeds hatred.
But then again the way death threats are thrown around whenever someone disagrees with someone else on an emotional issue (or almost any issue it seems) these days I'm starting to wonder if we'll ever accomplish the tolerance and acceptance our forefathers had hoped we would towards all our people in this nation.
In the age of news clips on rotation 24-7, You Tube and other media you would think that people would be more aware of what they say. It's too late when you've made such an asinine statement to retract it. The damage is done.
Think about it Ms. Foxx: What exactly did you mean to say?
Do you think there are no hate crimes against gay or lesbian Americans? Do you believe that expanding a hate crime bill is somehow a bad idea? Do you believe that even if Matthew Shepard's death wasn't a hate crime (and I do NOT believe that for a second) that violent crimes against gay citizens shouldn't be carry the same weight as other hate crime victims? Do you believe that Matthew's death wasn't a hate crime? Because you somehow KNOW better? Really what did you want to say? Please elaborate because I can't begin to fathom it out. Enlighten us.
According to ABC News Foxx spokesman Aaron Groen said the congresswoman relied on articles that she later realized were faulty and especially regrets upsetting the Shepard family. He said she declined further comment.
Oh yes, that makes everything better. She was ignorant of the actual circumstances under which Matthew Shepard died and spoke anyway or she relied on someone's research that said what exactly about his death...? Certainly not what most people believe.
Next time Congresswoman do the research yourself, take five seconds online.
As a matter of fact Virginia dear, I would have expected a government representative to know more about a most jarring case that caught the nation's attention because of it's nature.
Matthew Shepard's death was horrible. That is not the way most robberies end, it went far above and beyond.
Ms. Foxx's statements are outrageous. Please find a better representative North Carolina, or demand more from this one that you have.
And her explanation: weak and mind numbingly lame... It was just "a poor choice of words?" or "I didn't have the facts."
Yet again I suggest people think before they open their mouths to speak. Think. Please.
I also suggest people take more of an active interest in those they elect (and therefore hire) to represent them in government.
Some of the things Senators and Congresspeople have said recently are downright shocking.
I don't want to have a beer with any of them and I hope they only drink on their own time.
I want them to be intelligent, well informed and educated enough to run this country somewhere other than into the ground.
The House did pass the bill: The Matthew Shepard Act officially: The Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007.
Now it has to go through the Senate. Let's hope it passes. If you read up on this- it's an important update to The 1969 federal hate-crime law for numerous reasons.
Nothing more to say.
G'night,
Laura
Yet once again I find myself astounded by the fact that our representatives don't think before they speak. I'm talking about the North Carolina Republican Congresswoman that said that Matthew Shepard's death in 1998 wasn't a hate crime. It shouldn't be used as an example in support of a bill to expand on the definition of hate crimes to include violence motivated by sexual orientation.
Congresswoman Virginia Foxx states:
"We know that young man was killed in the commitment of a robbery. It wasn't because he was gay," Foxx said during debate. "The bill was named for him, the hate-crimes bill was named for him, but it's really a hoax that continues to be used as an excuse for passing these bills."
After the shit hit the fan, Ms. Foxx stated: "The term 'hoax' was a poor choice of words used in the discussion of the hate crimes bill," "Mr. Shepard's death was nothing less than a tragedy, and those responsible for his death certainly deserved the punishment they received."
Um, yea no doubt about it.
I'm so sick of people making such cavalier statements... so callous and thoughtless. Hate crimes are hate crimes. Civil rights are due to all across our nation and freedom from fear for their safety should be too. Hatred breeds hatred.
But then again the way death threats are thrown around whenever someone disagrees with someone else on an emotional issue (or almost any issue it seems) these days I'm starting to wonder if we'll ever accomplish the tolerance and acceptance our forefathers had hoped we would towards all our people in this nation.
In the age of news clips on rotation 24-7, You Tube and other media you would think that people would be more aware of what they say. It's too late when you've made such an asinine statement to retract it. The damage is done.
Think about it Ms. Foxx: What exactly did you mean to say?
Do you think there are no hate crimes against gay or lesbian Americans? Do you believe that expanding a hate crime bill is somehow a bad idea? Do you believe that even if Matthew Shepard's death wasn't a hate crime (and I do NOT believe that for a second) that violent crimes against gay citizens shouldn't be carry the same weight as other hate crime victims? Do you believe that Matthew's death wasn't a hate crime? Because you somehow KNOW better? Really what did you want to say? Please elaborate because I can't begin to fathom it out. Enlighten us.
According to ABC News Foxx spokesman Aaron Groen said the congresswoman relied on articles that she later realized were faulty and especially regrets upsetting the Shepard family. He said she declined further comment.
Oh yes, that makes everything better. She was ignorant of the actual circumstances under which Matthew Shepard died and spoke anyway or she relied on someone's research that said what exactly about his death...? Certainly not what most people believe.
Next time Congresswoman do the research yourself, take five seconds online.
As a matter of fact Virginia dear, I would have expected a government representative to know more about a most jarring case that caught the nation's attention because of it's nature.
Matthew Shepard's death was horrible. That is not the way most robberies end, it went far above and beyond.
Ms. Foxx's statements are outrageous. Please find a better representative North Carolina, or demand more from this one that you have.
And her explanation: weak and mind numbingly lame... It was just "a poor choice of words?" or "I didn't have the facts."
Yet again I suggest people think before they open their mouths to speak. Think. Please.
I also suggest people take more of an active interest in those they elect (and therefore hire) to represent them in government.
Some of the things Senators and Congresspeople have said recently are downright shocking.
I don't want to have a beer with any of them and I hope they only drink on their own time.
I want them to be intelligent, well informed and educated enough to run this country somewhere other than into the ground.
The House did pass the bill: The Matthew Shepard Act officially: The Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007.
Now it has to go through the Senate. Let's hope it passes. If you read up on this- it's an important update to The 1969 federal hate-crime law for numerous reasons.
Nothing more to say.
G'night,
Laura
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